24 October 2011
Teer Triumphant at GR8 Dundrum Race
Saturday 22nd October duly arrived, dull, windy and with a threat of rain but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of everyone at Murlough AC on the occasion of the 2nd running of their unique Gr8 Dundrum Race. No stone had been left unturned, well perhaps just one which I'll come back to, in their efforts to make this a memorable occasion. Indeed the whole community seemed to have embraced the event and there was an electric atmosphere about the place sufficient to drive away the bleak Autumn skies. All the more reason for regret on my part to have missed last year's presentation but with double the entry this time it surely had to be better – and it was!
OK so the sun didn't shine and the wind blew but meeting that challenge is really what it's about, not whether you beat someone or are faster or slower than last year or ate more sandwiches than all your team mates put together – just battling everything the elements throws at you and completing it, that's the achievement so be proud of that, everyone who did it.
My initial plan was to slot in behind Brendan Teer and last year's winner Deon McNeilly until halfway and then head for home but by the time I had crossed the start line they had gone, with Brendan taking the race by the scruff of the neck not only to win by over 2 minutes but to knock 51 seconds off last year's winning time. Considering the strength of the wind along the beach, which was highlighted as the reason most runners were slower than last year, this was a magnificent effort. And bearing in mind too that Deon is currently operating in the Over 45 category his placing is equally noteworthy.
But Brendan was not alone from the East Down contingent, 28 in all, to pick up some prize money, Liam Keenan 52.54 and 11th overall taking the Over 45 Mens crown and Mark McDowell 55.08 first Over 35.
With Ryan Hagen 52.31 running splendidly for 10th place the club's spread of ability across the age groups is heartening ahead of the new cross country league which begins on 5 November. Philip Vint 56.58 was well satisfied with a final workout before next weekend's Dublin Marathon, the icing on the cake coming as he overtook a well known Newcastle AC scribe whose comments in this paper each weeks keeps us entertained and well advised not to believe everything you read in the papers. Raymond Milligan continues to confound his biggest critic (himself) by running better than ever and 60.47 in the conditions was excellent running. James Magennis, another Dublin bound man was happy with 61.25 while Cheryl Denvir could have claimed the Female 35 prize if she hadn't started nearly one minute behind the leaders. Same mistake as I made but she'll learn, it's too late for me.
Brian Hamilton 65.09, Stephen Heasley 66.14 and Danny Flynn 67.00 had all crossed the line before our next lady Tracey McDowell 67.53 cruised home, well satisfied with her last hard work out before the 26.2 of Dublin. Charlie Ataliotis 68.15 was next followed by Tom McLean 70.19 and Paul Rogan 70.38. Oongh Breteche another first timer for Dublin completed in 70.51 before I managed to get close to Brendan again, though he was a mile or two into his warm down by then but I was happy with 72.07.
Which brings me back to that unturned stone – I found it along the beach, or rather my left foot did, proceeded to turn it along with my ankle, but since I was already limping it didn't make any difference to my progress. Those of you unfortunate enough to have been unwise enough to inquire of me within these past few months how I'm going will know I have a problem with my left leg in that it trails rather than runs. The result is that, like driving a car with a flat tyre, when I run I tend to veer to the side. So after about 10 minutes on the beach when Snaefell began to loom larger than Donard I had to make some fairly urgent adjustments to my bearings. Actually what I did was stop and walk for a about 50 metres to the right until I rejoined my fellow runners closer to the shoreline. Luckily I was off the beach and on the boardwalk before my errant leg headed south again took me into the tide.
Along the way I was overtaken by sisters Vickie Canavan and Debbie Kendall who are fundraising for St Paul's Church Restoration Fund and Breast Cancer respectively by running their maiden marathon in Dublin next week too. This only one year after joining Murlough so please give generously if you can. www.justgiving.com/DEBBIE-KENDALL.
And it was good to see runners from newly formed clubs Castlewellan AC and Seaforde Running club further proof of the growing popularity of the sport in this area.
Lisa Milligan ran steadily for 73.22 with Linda Cunningham 74.48, Aurla McLaughlin 76.33, Bridgeen Burns 76.37, Roisin Gaffney and Deirdre Mount on 77.37, Gareth Kimpton 80.02, the only All Black in the field, George Kerr, Karen McFall and Sheena McKermitt completing the East Down finishers. If any of you have been counting to see if those listed come to the total I mentioned earlier and they don't tally it's either because I left someone out or can't count. Either way I'm too lazy to check.
It was also good to see Seamus McKibben alias Spiderman back in action for the first time in 25 years, he says, running for the PIPS Charity and coming home in 76.35 and to meet again Caroline Boyd who we bumped into at last year's New York Marathon, but now back to Dundrum again. On the subject of which best wishes to Jackie Gilbride and Seamus Murphy who will be carrying the East Down colours this year in the Big Apple in 2 weeks time.
Great event Murlough, take a bow.
AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS
On Sunday in far off Killybegs, a late replacement venue for the flooded Ballybofey course, several of our up and coming stars were in action in the Northern Ireland and Ulster Even Age Group Championships and in spite of the long journey and the less than hospitable weather all acquitted themselves well. Aoife Cochrane set the standard with a battling 7.06 to take 50th in a large field of Under12 Girls race with Owen Edwards and Johnny Erskine following up with 40th and 56th places respectively in the Boys equivalent. Contender for performance of the day however was Tim Prenter's splendid 15th place in the same race, clocking 5.57 for the 1500 metres. Surely one to watch out for in the future.
Not to be outdone Ellen Erskine kept up the high standard in the Under 14 Girlsrace over 2500 metres and should be proud of her 21st place in 10.37. Likewise big brother Paddy who had a high class field to contend with but placed 28th in 14.56 over the 3.5K distance.
And more was to come with Elaine Burch making a determined effort for a medal in the Under 18 Girls 4K race. She ran strongly for the first 2 laps then faded slightly during the last 2 laps on a course which included beach and sand dunes and was caught with about 200m to go by Lagan Valley's Emma Sharkey. Elaine nevertheless finished 5th just 16 seconds outside the Bronze medal place and will be prepared for a re-match in the Uneven Age Group Championships when they come to Barnett's Park on 5 November.
All in all a splendid weekend's performances from all sections of the club. Next local race is the Griddle 10k and 5K Fun Run on Sunday 27 November at 12 noon. But before that how many will respond to the call to take part in the new Cross Country League over 6 rounds the first of which will be the Bobby rea Memorial race in Barnett's Park?
And finally good luck to all from the club and the whole of Co. Down who will be running the Dublin City Marathon next Monday.
Joe Quinn
23 October 2011
